Feahk l



. (No Model.)

F. L. EMERSON.

GOPHER GUN.

Patented Jan. 4, 1887;

- squirrels, &c.

Nirno STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. EMERSON, OF BRENTWVOOD, CALIFORNIA.

'GOPHER-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 355,602, dated January 4, 1857. Application filed July 26, 1886. Serial No. 209,168. (No model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. EMERSON, of Brentwood, in the county of Contra Costa and State of California, have invented an Improvement in Gopher-Guns; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to that class of guns which are specially adapted for the killing of burrowing animals-such as gophers, ground- The habits of' these animals have been particularly observed, especially those of the gopher, a small rodent mammal found in great numbers in the western part of the United States and elsewhere.

My invention consists in the combination of parts hereiuafter described, which form a complete gun, easy of operation, and effective for the purpose intended.

The object of my invention is to provide a gun of this class which may be readily insorted in the required position, and after being set may then be loaded with safety and discharged with accuracy.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my gophergun, showingit ready for firing. Fig. 2 is a detail to show the engagement of the lug z with the hole 6 of the hammer. i

A is the body of the gun, having the barre B, the breech b of which is adapted to receive fixed ammunition-such as cartridgesthongh other forms may be employed if .desired.

The body A is provided with legs 0, for entering the earth and holding the gun in the proper position.

From the back of the-body of the gun extends a wire frame, D, the sides of which serve as guides for the hammer E, which is mounted and adapted to slide thereon, its force being derived from the springs F, of rubber 'or other material, secured to the ends of the hammer and to the sides of the gun, as shown.

G is the trip, consisting of a rod passing loosely through the lower portion of the gunbody A, and provided upon its forward end, which projects beyond the muzzle of the gun some distance,with an annular loop or ring, To the rear end of the trip-rod G is attached a link, H, the upper end of which is attached to the rear end of the guide-frame D. In the to its forward limit.

I is the trigger-rod. The forward end of this rod is looped and adapted to slide upon the trip-rod G, and when in place to find a bearing against the back of the gun-body A. The rod I, at about its center, is provided with an upwardly-extending lug or point, z',which enback-, and with the other hand the operator raises the trigger-rod I, so that its lug or point i enters the socket e in the under surface of the hammer, and the rear end of said rodengages the notched link H,Whi1e its forward end bears against the gun-body. The hammer is thus held back and the trip-rod is projected The breech of the gun is fully exposed for the reception of the .cartridge; but beforeinsertingit the gun is placed in the position required.

The tendency of gophers to keep their holes closed is well known, and if the hole be opened after it has been closed the gopher will, invariably return in order to fill it with earth. Having, therefore, opened the hole, or having found it already open, the operator places the unloaded but previously-set gun in such a posit-ion that the annular loop or ring g on the forward end of the trip-rod G extends within the hole some distance,while the muzzle of the barrel enters the mouth of the hole, the gun being held in this position by the legs 0 entering the ground. After being thus set the cartridge is placed in the breech and the gun is ready. WVhen the gopher finds the hole is open, he returns to fill it up, and either comes directly in contact with the end of the triprod or throws the filling-in dirt against it. In

either case he is directly in linewith the gun, and his action forces the trip-rod G back. This carries the link H back, freeing the triggerrod I of its engagement with the notch h and allowing it to drop, so as to disengage its lug or point i from the socket e in the under surfront side or face of this link is'made anotch, h. i face of the hammer. The hammer then flies ICO forward under the influence of its springs and explodes the cartridge. The bullet passes through the annular loop or ring 9 on the forward end of the trip-rod G and embeds itself in the gopher before he can withdraw. The lug or point t on the trigger-rod is beveled down, so that it barely serves to hold the hammer, and is easily released therefrom.

The ringg upon the end of the trip-rod G-provides for the accurate adjustment of the gun in the hole, and is better than the simple point with which the trip-rod is sometimes provided, and which lies in the top of the hole, requiring the gopher to pass under it. By being made of an annular shape it does not interfere with the course of the bullet, and yet presents surface enough to cause the dirt which is thrown against it to force it back.

The arrangement of the hammer in the manner shown makes the whole device more compactthan ifthe hammer or trip extended above the gun. It also provides for the ready and safe loading of the gun after it has been fully set and is in position by reason of the complete exposure of the breech which it makes.

I am aware that guns have been made for this purpose in which the essential parts of mygun have been used; but these were differ ent in construction and arrangement, render ing those guns more expensive in the manufacture and more difficult to load and place in position, besides being less accurate in their aim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gopher-gun, the barrel B and the guide-frame D, extending rearwardly therefrom, in combination with the hammer E, mounted on said frame, springs connecting the hammer with the body of the gun, the forwardly-extending trip-rod G, connected with the guide-frame and having a loop, 9, in alignment with the barrel, and. the trigger-rod I, for holding the hammer when retracted, substantially as herein described.

2. A gopher-gun comprising the body A, with a barrel, B, the guide-frame D on the rear of the body, the hammer E, mounted and sliding upon the frame and having a socket, e, the springs F, by which the hammer is thrown forward, the sliding trip-rod G, passing through the body and having the annular loop or ring 9 on its forward end, the notched link H, attached to the rear ends of the trip-rod and guideirame, and the trigger-rod I, looped at its forward end upon the trip-rod, engaging at its rear end the notched link, and having a lug'or point, t, engaging the socket in the under surface of the hammer, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK L. EMERSON. \Vitnesscs:

S. P. DAVIS, \V. A. VALKER. 

